In an interview onhis first anniversary in office, Belarusian president AleksandrLukashenko told Russian television July 3 that he had made seriousprogress cutting inflation and had begun to move against botha bloated state budget and organized crime. Lukashenko's plansto cut the budget by ending entitlements have... MORE

Unless Moscow increases its planned budget for the Black SeaFleet, that military unit will cease to exist, the Russian RearAdmiral in charge of the fleet's maintenance and repair told Moscow'sMayak radio July 5. Aleksandr Alaktin said the fleet is alreadyfar behind in its payments to... MORE

On July 5, the RussianFederation Council rejected a Duma bill that would have blockedthe restructuring and withdrawal of the 14th Army from Moldova'sTransdniestr region until a political agreement was reached betweenMoscow and Chisinau, Interfax reported. Council members said thatthey had done so to keep Russia... MORE

On July 5,

As theywent to the polls July 5, Armenians were very much divided onwhether it would be a good thing to restore the USSR, Noyan Tapannews agency reported July 3. According to one recent poll, 45percent of Armenians--predominantly women--would like to see areturn to Soviet times,... MORE

Moscow media gave extensivecoverage July 5 to clashes between Russian and Tajik governmentforces, on the one hand, and the Tajik opposition, on the other.And Russia wire services cited various officials to the effectthat yesterday's fighting presages even more bloodshed in thefuture: Tajikistan´s deputy security minister,... MORE

Leaders of Uzbekistan's"Birlik" opposition party held a conference in the Russiancapital because it is too dangerous for them to meet in the capitalof their own country, Russian radio reported July 1. While thecongress could not take place in Uzbekistan, numerous party membersfrom that country were... MORE

Yerevan's chief psychotherapisttold the Noyan Tapan news agency July 3 that "there are insanepeople running for parliament" and that if elected, theywould join others of their kind already there. Claiming that hecould not name names because of professional ethics, the psychotherapistsaid that "merely by watching... MORE

. The peace talks in Grozny recessedon July 3 to allow time for both sides to consult their governments.On July 2, Russian negotiator Arkady Volsky met with Chechenpresident Dzhokhar Dudayev to press him to resign or to leavethe CIS, but Dudayev said he would leave... MORE

.The situation at the negotiating table reflects a deeper seachange in the positions of the two sides. The Chechens are anythingbut defeated. Izvestiya reported July 1 that many Chechensnow call Shamil Basayev, the leader of the Budennovsk raid, "thenew Imam Shamil," a reference to the... MORE